Good stuff. As someone who constantly assesses libraries, I do many of the things listed above, paying attention to customer service, greetings, displays, and merchandising wherever I go. I also do these:

+ Talk to taxi drivers. They often ask why I’m in town, giving me the chance to say “for a library conference with 10,000 other people.” I love watching their surprise. Then they say something like, “So I guess it’s all about books, huh?” or something else that reveals their feelings. Then I tell ’em what libs really do these days and invite them to check their own for all the free resources. (Free ebooks & DVDs usually get their attention.)

+ In library stories online, I always read the comments. It’s a great way to see exactly how some people feel about libs & why they do or don’t support them.

+ When I’m on a train or plane, I often ask my seatmate what kind of work they do. I listen & learn. When they ask what I do, I give them a short Libraries Are Essential spiel.

+ I wear library t-shirts around town to get reactions and to strike up conversations. “Librarians: The Original Search Engine” works particularly well.

In all these cases, I’m learning how people think about libraries (free research!) while informing them of why they’re still vital.

Always good to take a step back, or “go up the balcony” as an educationalist describes it. Thanks for passing Sally’s reminder along.
I say “hi, I’m a librarian” when introducing myself in any non-library context. People usually take a moment to reflect on their own reaction, then a truly interesting conversation follows

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About The Author

Stephen Abram is a librarian and principal with Lighthouse Consulting Inc., and executive director of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries. He blogs on library strategies for direction, marketing, technology and user alignment.